FREE EVENTS IN THE SOUTH SOUND NOV. 28-DEC. 3 >>>

Oh man, Bobble Tiki loves outer space, UFOs, lizard people from the 5th Dimension walking among us and everything X-Files. Many times Bobble Tiki has hopped around the Arizona desert, searching for clues and bunkers and spacecraft wreckage and secret codes written on tablets of transparent zirconium. And look! Northwest expert James Clarkson is lecturing this week. Righteous. In his honor, Bobble Tiki presents a week of free outer-space-ISH events in happening in the South Sound.

MONDAY, NOV. 28: Every Monday DJ Melodica spins punk, post punk, New Wave and early electronica tunes during Micro Mondays at Magoo's Annex in Tacoma. Bobble Tiki can only assume Melodica will spin "space" music by Aphex Twins, Thomas Dolby, Enigma, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, and, of course, "Space Age Love Song." The free music begins at 8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, NOV. 29: Once Sold Tales Bookstore Outlet in Kent allows those 18 and younger to take home free five books from 60,000 titles from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. as a way to encourage reading in the next generation. Bobble Tiki expects The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, The Sky Is Full of Stars, Binky The Space Cat, Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space and Colonization Of Psychic Space: A Psychoanalytic Social Theory Of Oppression and to be among the choices.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30: Yes! James Clarkson, a career investigator and UFOlogist will discuss cases of unidentified flying objects in the Northwest and ideas on the nature of non-human intelligence for free at 7:30 p.m. inside the Olympia Timberland Library. Is anyone else suddenly picturing Gillian Anderson in a black dress with a white duster?

THURSDAY, DEC. 1: This might be stretching this week's theme but Bobble Tiki believes mediation is an attempt to build on your inner consciousness so that you have an enhanced awareness of both your valid existence and your rightful relationship to the infinite cosmos. At 7 p.m. inside The Nalanda Institute Dharma Center in Olympia, a free class will be held on "Contemplative Science, Dharma Practice from a Research Perspective," These teachings are based on recent collaborative research studies between Buddhist scholars/meditators and western researchers.

FRIDAY, DEC. 2: Space is the place. The Future Bass maestros of intelligent electronica descend upon the Tempest Lounge for a cover-free night so intense that mere dancing is not sufficient. DJs BROAM, Bobby Galaxy and Sound Selector E.S. present the latest and future of electronic music while immersed in a lush environment of projected video and live visuals. The spaceship takes off at 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 3: As Hollywood's bottomless recycling bin continues along the dark path of rebooting, relaunching, CGI-ing and 3D-ing an entire generation of young executives' childhood memories into franchise-ready properties, Jim Henson's iconic creations have hit recently returned to the big screen with The Muppets. In celebration the Lakewood Pierce County Library will celebrate The Muppets with Muppet movies, including Muppets From Space, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: 2011 South Sound Holiday Happenings

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

SoDo Tacoma: A half-million-dollar grant has launched the City of Tacoma toward pre-approving up to 30 million square feet of new development in south downtown. (News Tribune)

Score One For Tacoma: Tacoma had more schools named to the Innovative Schools list than any other school district. (News Tribune)

United States Receives A Warning: Pakistan's prime minister vows there will be "no more business as usual" with Washington after NATO aircraft killed two dozen Pakistan troops. (CNN)

Occupy Camps: The stakes will be pulled on Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times)

Oh, Great: New Star Trek film will be in 3-D. (Deadline)

Interview: Noel Gallagher is on his own. (The New York Times)

Make It Happen Murray!: There could be a Flight of the Conchords movie. (New York Magazine)

Thought Zoot Would Be Higher: Top 25 Muppets (CinemaBlend)

MONDAY, NOV. 28, 2011 >>>

1. Today in Olympia the legislature's special session kicks off - with lawmakers in town to grapple with the ominous budget shortfall. Swaths of education supporters organized by the Washington Education Association will also be in Oly for "Standing Strong. Standing Together" - a rally at the West Capital Campus against cuts to education funding. The rally runs from noon to 12:45 p.m., though those attending the rally are encouraged to arrive by 11:30 a.m.

2. The University of Puget Sound invites one and all to a "Fossil Fuel Forum" tonight from 5 - 6 p.m. in Trimble Forum. Including four UPS professors, the forum aims to educate students and community members about coal, all other fossil fuels and their alternatives.

3. Hip Bone hits the stage at 8 p.m. tonight at The Swiss. Blues on a Monday is very fitting. Get in on the action.

4. Stuck in Lacey on a Monday night with nothing to do? We've all been there. Try Team Trivia Night, kicking off at 7 p.m. at Farrelli's Gourmet Wood Fire Pizza. Yes, you can totally win prizes.

5. In Tacoma, hot trivia action can be found at the Mandolin Café, hosted by Jeff Ross. It's all ages, gets going at 6 p.m. and is totally free to get in on (though we do recommend buying a coffee ... because coffee is delicious).

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

WE SAY SWALLOW >>>

It's time for your big holiday feast, and you've decided to go as local as possible. You have your ham from Cheryl The Pig Lady, cheeses from Black Sheep Creamery, desserts from Mama's Bakery and your wine from - France? To make your meal truly local, try looking a little closer to home for your beverages.

May we suggest you do a little local beverage research Thursday.

Tacoma's 21 Cellars and Wingman Brewery present a joint tasting under the title Drink Local, Drink Tacoma at The Swiss. Benefiting HIV/AIDS Reach Ministries - it's World AIDS Day Dec. 1 - the night offers wine and beer tastings, T-shirts, raffle and live music from Miles Ralston and Tacoma's own Rusty Cleavers.

21 Cellars will be pouring its 2008 Promesse 21 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - which will be release Dec. 12 - as well as its other wines.

Wingman will pour its Belgian Strong Ale and ACE IPA. Interestingly, the Belgian Strong Ale was aged in 2006 Vintage Pont 21 barrels. A side-by-side tasting with Pont 21 will be available at The Swiss.

Tastings provide prime opportunities to learn about grapes and hops, mingle with other eager learners, and use a spittoon (or, conversely, swallow 'til you're ripped). The Weekly Volcano will be swallowing ... a lot ... Thursday at The Swiss.

[The Swiss, Thursday, Dec. 21, 6 p.m., all ages until 8 p.m., $3 suggested donation, 1904 S. Jefferson, Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

LINK: Other local wine and beer tastings

YO CLARK GRISWOLD! >>>

For many Americans, the holiday season could be better-called "The Consumption Season." Corporate America has seasoned our perception of a year's end into an annual rite of buying on credit, looking anxiously for parking spaces and slipping unconsciously into a "Buy! Buy! Buy!" mind frame.

The seasonal celebration has become more about purchasing than about spiritual renewal or reverence for change. And as consumption increases, it's important to be aware of how and under what conditions your gifts were produced. Globally aware folk are realizing that feeding the corporate machine by buying overpriced products from schmancy designers doesn't comply with the forward-thinking mentality portrayed by their "Think Globally, Act Locally" bumper sticker. But the "shop ‘til you drop" attitude is the one many grew up with, and it remains an easy one to slip numbly into as the holiday approaches. This holiday season is an ideal opportunity to subscribe whole-heartedly to a more sustainable style of gift giving.

Also something to keep in mind is how your holiday celebration affects the planet.

The obvious is the living Christmas tree. No need to whack down a young pup evergreen, just to keep it gasping on life support until a couple days after Christmas. Instead, consider a live, potted tree to be planted in the spring. Check with local greenhouses or nurseries for trees that can make the indoor/outdoor transition without becoming a Yule log.

Holiday Lights Recycling

What you may not have considered is recycling your holiday lights.

Federal Way resident Jessica Lam considered it. Three years ago the 10-year-old approached Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium with the idea of recycling strings of holiday lights and raise money for the Zoo's conservation fund. Gazing out onto its one trillion lights show that is Zoolights, the recycling arm of PDZA lit up with glee.

Through the holiday season the zoo will take your light strands, sell the copper wiring, recycle the plastic coating and put the money back into the zoo. It's brilliant. PDZA asks you remove all packaging, twist-ties, rubber bands and pinecones decorated as Santa.

The Girl Scouts return to help with the recycling program - collecting strands to earn a coveted badge.

Click here to journey to PDZA's recycling program webpage for donation locations.

THE ONE THAT DIDN'T MAKE OUR HOLIDAY GUIDE >>>

The frame above is for pictures of your favorite d-bag. We all have at least one in our life - that person you would love to punish, if only you weren't such a cowardly, passive aggressive little whiner; endlessly turning your rage inward because you avoid confrontation compulsively, like a traumatized Chihuahua, all under the sickeningly transparent banner of  "rising above."

Well this is your lucky day, Francis.

With this, you can finally rest, knowing that the image of your passive resentment is surrounded on all sides by insults you would never have the guts to deliver yourself.

(That ought to sell a few frames ...)

WHERE TO FIND IT: Brownie Morrison, 712 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.683.2924

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from Justin D. Leighton in response to Zach Poweras' feature story on Marriage Equality ... or more specifially, in response to commenter Kelly.

Leighton writes,

Kelly,

You don't think straight people do all those crazy things you mentioned? In fact only 10% (estimated) of the population is LGBT, the other 90% is straight. We are not worried about their crazy acts happening which is clearly at much higher frequency. BTW you sure know those names well, just saying.

On a side note, you didn't give me or my fellow LGBT citizens everything but marriage and its apparent you didn't vote for Ref 71 but guess what? 54% of Washington citizens gave that right to us.

The great thing about civil rights, is no matter how long the NO hold out, the No always looses in the end. You can fight but no matter what you will not win on this.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TACOMA HISTORY ... AND LOVE FOOD? >>

Foodcaching is a new smart phone app alerting customers of awesome food deals at 16 restaurants in the greater Tacoma area. You may download the app for free on your iPhone and Android here.

The Weekly Volcano has teamed up with Foodcaching for the True Tacoman game. Every Tuesday and Friday right here on Spew, we post a Tacoma history trivia provided by the Washington State History Museum. If you know the answer, run to one of the 16 participating restaurants, come clean with answer and you'll receive points on your Foodcaching app, which you downloaded free here. We'll be running the True Tacoman trivia game through the end of the year.

The person will the most points on Dec. 31 will be crowned the True Tacoman and be flooded with various food prizes.

Friday's True Tacoman trivia answer

Friday, we posted the question: True or false: Picnic Island was an early name for Eagle Island - which sat between Anderson and McNeil islands - because Tacomans loved to picnic on it? You spent the last four days telling the restaurants listed below that the answer is "TRUE" and, thereby, scoring points on the Foodcaching app. It was an easy task, except those who live on Anderson Island. 

Today is Tuesday, which means we post another trivia question as part of the True Tacoman contest.

Today's True Tacoman trivia question

John G. Proctor, the man for whom Proctor Street is named after was a:

• A) banker
• B) architect
• C) farmer?

Answer the question correctly at one of the 16 participating restaurants below and score points - besides scoring awesome food deals from the restaurants. The correct answer will be revealed Friday, Dec. 2 on Spew. Also keep an eye on this blog for bonus game points and a special invite to the True Tacoman Game Party in early 2012.

Oh, you can download the free app here.

Participating restaurants

• 1022 South, 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588, Facebook
• Capers Cafe & Take Home, 2602 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.4444, Facebook
• Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588, Facebook
• Dorky's Arcade, 754 Pacfic Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156, Facebook
• Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.2739, Facebook
• Harmon Tap Room, 204 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.2725, Facebook
• The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606, Facebook
• Jake's Bar & Bistro, 215 Wilkes St., Steilacoom, 253.581.3300, Website
• Massimo Italian Bar & Grill, 4020 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.503.1902, Facebook
• Marrow Kitchen & Bar, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.267.5299, Facebook
• Over The Moon Cafe, 709 Court C/Opera Alley, Tacoma, 253.284.3722, Facebook
• Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535, Facebook
• The Social Bar & Grill, 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.301.3835, Facebook
• STINK Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.426.1347, Facebook
• Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe, 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1502, Facebook
• TWOKOI Japanese Restaurant, 1552 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.274.8999, Facebook

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Fallen Officers Food Drive: A Pierce County storage company will be participating in a food drive to honor four Lakewood police officers who were killed two years ago today. (King 5)

And So It Begins: Olympia's budget-cutting special section is on. (Seattle Times)

Combing For Ethics Violation: Retired Tacoma Dome director Mike Combs isn't suppose to be helping with the publicly funded study to bring a pro sports team to Tacoma. (News Tribune)

Occupy Olympia: Protest leads to arrests yesterday. (SLOG)

Iranian Students Pissed Off: Iranian students stormed the British Embassy in Tehran today, breaking down the door and replacing the British flag with an Iranian one. (CNN)

Oh Schrute: Dunder Mifflin paper is coming to stores. (TVGuide)

Listen: Scarlett Johansson teams with a dead Dean Martin for "I'll Be home for Christmas." (Indiewire)

Ho Ho Ho: 105 geek gift ideas (DVICE)

Macabrenet!: Elvira is launching her own line of wines. (Shock Till You Drop)

TUESDAY, NOV. 29, 2011 >>>

1.Hey! Guess what? The Rafael Tranquilino Band plays Stonegate Pizza every Tuesday night! Get in on the rockin' action tonight.

2. Billed as the region's biggest walk-through light show, ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium includes animated light sculptures, live entertainment, snacks, animal encounters and the Paul Titus Carousel. ZooLights runs through Jan. 1, but there's no reason you can't cross it off your bucket list tonight. ZooLights runs from 5 - 9 p.m.

3. Get your groove on tonight in Parkland. DJ Adam Ant spins during "Twisted Tuesday" at Lady Luck Cowgirl Up, offering Top 40 action and karaoke. The good times start at 9 p.m. Or, if you're looking for something more, peruse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

4. Tacoma's Backstage Bar & Grill has stormed onto the scene - quickly becoming this town's go-to location for nostalgic drunken fun and devil horns. Tonight witness the awesomeness of a "DJ & Drummer Duo Battle," featuring DJ Switch and Chris Dahl. Magic starts at 9:30 p.m.

5. The Royal Lounge in Olympia offers a Comedy Lounge night every Tuesday, featuring an open-mic from 9-9:30 p.m. and headlining comics from 9:30 - 11 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight